Monday, September 27, 2010

09-27-10 Activist Calendar

Editor's note: (1) The Activist Newsletter will be posted on or before Thursday, Sept. 30.
(2) Note the Oct. 27 event. We're organizing it and want you to come!
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Tuesday, Sept. 28, NATIONWIDE: Protests are taking place in at least 30 U.S. cities against the Sept. 24 FBI raids on peace, justice and international solidarity activists in Minnesota and Illinois. (About half took place Monday before we obtained information.) Today's New York City demonstration is set for 4:30-6 p.m. in front of the Federal Building at 26 Federal Plaza, in Manhattan. The protests are in response to a call from the Minnesota Antiwar Committee for emergency actions at federal buildings and FBI offices throughout the country. More will take place in following days, as in Albany below.

Wednesday, Sept. 29, ALBANY: A protest against last week's FBI raids on movement activists will be held 5-6 p.m. outside the Leo O'Brien Federal Building at Clinton Ave. and Pearl St. "Bring your own signs."
Wednesday, September 29, NYACK: The Future of the Hudson River Watershed meeting will be held at Nyack library, 59 S. Broadway, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Hosted by N.Y. State Assembly members Kenneth Zebrowski and Ellen Jaffee, in cooperation with the Hudson River Watershed Alliance. The featured speaker is Fran Dunwell, NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Coordinator. For more information, http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4920.html Free event, limited space.

Saturday, Oct. 2, WASHINGTON: Dozens of charter buses, mostly organized by the union movement, are leaving from the Hudson Valley in the early morning headed for a mass march and rally in the nation's capital that is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of participants from throughout the United States. (For bus information in your area send your name, town and email address to Sue DelGiorno of the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation at sdelgiorno@hvalf.org. Her phone number is [845] 567-7760.) There will be heavy union participation at the event. Over 150 organizations in a new liberal-leaning coalition named One Nation Working Together are calling the demonstration, which is conceived as an answer to the Tea Party and the right wing, and is obviously intended to build support for the Democrats a month before the elections. The coalition calls for "putting America back to work, quality and affordable public education, and equality for all. "A march from Constitution Ave. to the Lincoln Memorial begins at 11 a.m. from 15th St. NW. The rally at the Memorial will begin about an hour later. A number of peace, justice and left organizations are joining various march contingents. Website for information about the day, http://onenationworkingtogether.org/?page_id=4, http://www.onenationforpeace.org/.

Saturday, Oct. 2, ALBANY: Two members of a Colombian peace group will speak about the continuing U.S.-funded war in Colombia. They are from Christian Peacemaker Teams, known as ECAP (Equipos Cristianos de Accion por la Paz). This 3-5 p.m. free public meeting will be held at the First Reformed Church, which is sponsoring the event, at 110 North Pearl St. at Orange St. From the organizers: "Washington has spent $6.5 billion dollars funding the war in Colombia, and recently signed an agreement to place seven U.S. military bases in Colombia. Why does the country with the worst human rights record in the Western Hemisphere continue to receive U.S. support — and what can people of conscience do about it?" Information, http://www.cpt.org, firstchurch@verizon.net.

Saturday, Oct. 2, NEW PALTZ: A "Be Wise-Winterize" home energy fair will be held at Town Hall Community Center, 1 Veterans Dr. (off Route 32) from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Talk to builders and others who can help save money and energy with energy audits, insulation, thermostats, and rebates from NYSERDA. Refreshments, children's activities, tour of nearby Green Acres Zero Net Energy Homes. Information, Rosalyn Cherry, rosalyn@clutterkit.com.

Saturday, Oct. 2 to Saturday Oct. 9, GLOBAL: The annual "Keep Space for Peace Week" takes place on these days in a number of countries and cities. It's organized by the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space and the actions "are intended to help educate the public about the need to prevent the arms race from moving into the heavens." We are aware of no events in the Hudson Valley but information regarding these International Days of Protest to Stop the Militarization of Space and a list events elsewhere is at http://www.space4peace.org/actions/ksfpw10.htm.

Sunday, Oct. 3, NEW PALTZ: A report on repression and resistance in Honduras will be delivered by Honduran teacher and activist Lucy Pagoada, who now teaches in a New York City high school. She will discuss last year's coup in Honduras, which was passively if not actively supported by Washington, the continuing violent repression and people's fightback. Pagoada is part of the Honduran USA Resistance and the May 1st Coalition. There will be a segment from the film "We are (Not) Afraid," produced by exiled filmmaker Katia Lara. An optional potluck begins at 5 p.m. Village Hall, 25 Plattekill Ave., a block south of Main St/Rt. 299 (Park in the Village Hall parking lot). This free public meeting is sponsored by the Caribbean and Latin America Support Project (CLASP). Information, (845) 255-0113.

Monday, Oct. 4, OLD CHATHAM: The film "Gasland" will be screened at Old Chatham Quaker Meeting at Powell House Quaker Conference and Retreat Center, 524 Pitt Hall Rd. (off County Rt. 13). This documentary looks at the dangers and unsustainability of the process known as hydraulic fracturing for natural gas (fracking). Public and free. Information, (518) 794-0259, http://www.oldchathamquakers.org.
Monday, Oct. 4, ALBANY: The award-winning film "Lemon Tree," a drama about Palestinian and Israeli neighbors, will be shown at the Albany Public Library, Pine Hills Branch, 517 Western Ave. at 6:30 p.m. Sponsored by Capital District Palestinian Rights Committee. Information, (518) 465-5425, mfolsom@aol.com.
Wednesday, Oct. 6, ANNANDALE (Bard College campus): Former U.S. Ambassador Edward Peck, an early opponent of the Iraq war and most recently a participant in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla that was attacked by Israel in international waters last spring, will discuss his experiences at 7:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room of the Campus Center. A 32-year veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service, Peck will provide a first-hand account of the confrontation that resulted in the deaths of nine unarmed members of the humanitarian mission to Gaza. This free public event is organized by the Bard chapter of the International Solidarity Movement. Campus map: http://www.bard.edu/campus/maps/maptour/. Information, ag2976@bard.edu.
Wednesday, Oct. 6, ALBANY: Amnesty International of Albany will hold its monthly first Wednesday meeting at Albany Public Library, 161 Washington Ave., Conference room one, 7-8:30 p.m. "Discuss human rights issues, plan actions, compose letters." Information, (518) 453-0545, ckuehl@siena.edu, http://www.ai361.org.
Wednesday, Oct. 6, NEWBURGH: The Community Forum on the Future of the Hudson River and its Watershed will be held at the Newburgh Free Library, 124 Grand St, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. This free event is sponsored by NY State Assembly members, Frank Skartados and Sandy Galef.
Wednesday, Oct. 6, NEW ROCHELLE (Iona Campus): Teach-in: "Why Are We There? A Discussion of the Continuing U.S. Occupation of Iraq, and the Ongoing War in Afghanistan," at the Ryan Library's Romita Auditorium, 715 North Ave., 7-9 p.m. Sponsored by Iona College's Peace and Justice Studies Program, Office of Campus Ministries, Students for Peace, Hola, WESPAC, CODEPINK Westchester, No War Westchester, Westchester Peace And Justice Coalition, Peace Action New Rochelle. Speakers include Raed Jarrar, a political consultant for Peace Action, Mat Southworth, an Iraqi war veteran and FCNL organizer, Dr. Dahlia Wasfi, an Iraqi-American physician and activist. Information, tdelgado@iona.edu. Directions, http://www.iona.edu/directions.cfm
Thursday, Oct. 7, DELMAR: The documentary, "William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe" will be screened at Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., 6:45-8:45 p.m. Kunstler, one of the most famous progressive lawyers of the 20th Century, defended such clients as political prisoner Leonard Peltier, inmates at Attica after the prison rebellion and subsequent repression, and the Chicago 8, who protested the Vietnam war. The late Howard Zinn described the documentary as "A wonderful, inspiring film." Information, (518) 466-1192, jlombard@nycap.rr.com, http://www.bethlehemforpeace.org.

Sunday, Oct. 10, ALBANY (College of St. Rose Campus): A conference on "U.S. Policy on Israel and the Palestine Territories" will be conducted at St. Joseph's Hall, 420 Western Ave., 12 noon-6:45 p.m. Speaker panels and workshops will discuss such matters as peace, dialogue between the sides, and the history of the region. The cost is $10-$12. The Interfaith Alliance of New York State is the sponsor, with co-sponsors J Street-Albany, the Islamic Center of the Capital District, the Capital Area Council of Churches, the Muslim Community of Troy, the Capital Region Ecumenical Organization, and Congregation Berith Sholom-Troy. Campus map and directions, http://www.strose.edu/campus/maps_directories. Information (419) 304-7854, cimabuehw@gmail.com, http://tianysconference10-10-10.webs.com.

Sunday, Oct. 10, RHINEBECK: A "Here Comes the Sun" rally will start at 2 p.m. in Town Hall, 80 E. Market St. This is the third annual 350.org Rally for a Green New Deal. Information, joeltyner@earthlink.net.
Sunday, Oct. 10, Woodstock: The Arts and Clean Energy Expo will be at Mountainview Studio, 20 Mountainview Ave., 1-7 p.m. Information, http://www.mtnviewstudio.com.

Thursday, Oct. 14, WOODSTOCK: The Middle East Crisis Response group of Hudson Valley residents opposed to Israeli and U.S. policies toward the Palestinians meets 7-8:30 p.m. at the Library, 5 Library Lane, just off Tinker St. All welcome. Information, (845) 876-7906, http://www.mideastcrisis.org, gale@mideastcrisis.org.

Thursday, Oct. 14, ALBANY: The Solidarity Committee, working in solidarity with unions, peace and community groups meets at the Social Justice Center, 33 Central Ave. from 6-9 p.m. Information, (518) 426-0883, dbull@capital.net, http://www.solidaritycommittee.org.
Thursday, Oct. 21, NEW PALTZ (SUNY campus):"The Push to Revive Nuclear Power" will be explored by SUNY Old Westbury journalism Prof. Karl Grossman, an author and investigative reporter. His free public talk will begin at 7 p.m. at the Coykendall Science Building auditorium. We're told he will discuss "a number of myths about nuclear power prominent in the mainstream media, among them that nuclear power doesn’t contribute to global warming." Grossman will also present a workshop, “Energy We Can Live With,” that "will provide an interactive venue for participants to learn about and discuss new, safe, clean energy technologies." The meeting is sponsored by the Progressive Academic Network and Environmental Task Force, among others. Campus map: http://www.newpaltz.edu/map/.

Wednesday, Oct. 27, NEW PALTZ (SUNY campus): "The Perfect Storm — Climate Change, Plus Endless Wars and Global Poverty" is the topic of a free public meeting starting at 7 p.m. in the Coykendall Science Bldg. auditorium. It is sponsored by the Hudson Valley Activist Newsletter/Calendar, Peace & Social Progress Now and co-sponsors. The meeting is largely focused on the extreme danger of climate change in the next decades, made worse by Washington's fixation on wars and military spending, compounded by the inability of the UN and world nations to alleviate growing poverty. All three together spell disaster. The greatest crisis is climate change because many countries led by the U.S. have refused to take the tough measures required to reduce greenhouse emissions, though shocking signs of global warming are upon us and will worsen considerably over the next 20 years. Continuing wars only make the crisis worse — and a future catastrophic World War III cannot be ruled out. Details about speakers and topics will be available soon. We encourage our readers to join us at this important meeting. The Coykendall auditorium is directly opposite the Lecture Center on campus. Campus map: http://www.newpaltz.edu/map/. Information, jacdon@earthlink.net, (845) 255-5779, http://activistnewsletter.blogspot.com/.

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The main articles on this page consist of national and international news and commentary from a progressive point of view, and constitute the monthly edition of the Activist Newsletter, which is subscribed to by 3,300 regular email readers, the bulk of them in the New York State’s Hudson Valley. They are alerted by email about the contents of each new issue. Innumerable visitors also drop in throughout the month. Sign up below to receive our email notices. In addition a calendar of progressive regional events appears every month with one or two updates, as well as occasional individual articles.